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HoCoHRS NewsletterCommitting to HRExcellence in 2014! March 2014

In This IssueMonthly Meeting on 3/20/142014 Meeting Dates & Topics

Diversity: An EvolvingWorkforce

Volunteer OpportunitiesFree Legislative Webinar

News from MD State Council

Quick Links

Howard County HR Society LinkedIn Howard County HRSociety Group Society for Human ResourceManagement (SHRM)

Maryland State SHRMCouncil

Please forward to acolleague who is interested

in our chapter!

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Greetings HR Colleagues! Good things come in small packages. I'vealways found that expression to be quiteaccurate when opening the smallest Christmasgift or Valentine box or... technology device--I love my smartphone! So I have a small gift for you--I am excited to tell youthat HoCoHRS has a new website: NEW HoCoHRSWebsite! (please note the new URL and bookmark this:hocohrs.shrm.org). This is a fantastic website that is co-branded and connected with our parent organization, SHRM(SHRM) We've had our share of frustration lately over our outdatedand complicated old website, and if you've had any kind ofexperience like this over your own technology choice, thenyou know that being able to navigate such a key element inour organization's success is quite the milestone. Regardlessof how small or large your HR technology needs are, youneed to have someone knowledgeable to point you in theright IT direction. You will therefore absolutely want to make plans to attendthe HoCoHRS March 20 meeting when our ownBernie Aller presents "7 Steps to the Highly EffectiveSelection & Transition to a Modern Human CapitalManagement System." If you haven't had the benefit ofexperiencing an IT conversion where you work, consideryourself lucky to be able to hear from Bernie about hisexperience in this arena while providing some guidancebefore you journey down the HRIS rabbit hole. The HoCoHRS website is still a work in progress-we areworking on setting up a PayPal account (and perhaps by thetime you read this, the work is done). So please take sometime to check the site out http://hocohrs.shrm.org, click onthe different tabs, and tell us what you think. We value your

MONTHLY MEETINGS Our monthly meetings are heldon the 3rd Thursday of everymonth at: Ecker Business Training Center6751 Columbia Gateway DriveColumbia, MD 210458:00 AM - 10:30 AM(note: we do not meet inJanuary or June)

2014 Membership Rates Our rates for 2014 Membershipare:

Professional SHRMMember: $50.00Professional non-SHRMMember: $60.00Associate Member $60.00Student $20.00Professional All in One(includes 2014 annualmembership and all 10meetings) $230.00

You can renew and pay yourdues at the next meeting! Cash,checks or credit cardswelcome!

thoughts on what you would like to see that would bring youback to the site often. Have a fabulous March-Spring is right around the corner. Sincerely, Dawn Rhodes, SPHRPresidentHoward County HR SocietyFind Us on the Web!

Our Next Meeting: March 20, 2014 Meeting

Selecting the Best HR/HCM System: 7 Steps to Nirvana Speaker: Bernard Aller, SPHR-CEBSLocation: Ecker Business Training Center 6751Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia, MD 21046Time: 8:00-10:30am We know we need to update our current HR/HCM Systembut because of all of the new technologies that are nowavailable on the market, we have no idea how toprofessionally conduct a search for the system that bestmeets our needs ... where do we begin? Join the Howard County Human Resources Society onThursday, March 20, 2014 at 8:30am at the Ecker BusinessTraining Center and participate in an interactive, vendor-neutral workshop facilitated by Bernard Aller, SPHR-CEBS, anationally-known independent HR/HCM Systemsconsultant, who will discuss a proven 7 step process that willhelp you and your organization get to your HRIS Nirvana. This program has been approved for 1.5 HRCI generalcredits. Pre-Registration Note: We are still working to add MeetingPre-Registration to our new website and hope to have thisfeature (including PayPal) up and running soon. If you areunable to pre-register, don't worry: you can register andpay when you arrive at the meeting. Cash, checks, andcredit cards are welcome.

Thank you to Payroll Network for sponsoring ourMarch Meeting!

Visit Payroll Network on the web!

Payroll Network

2014 Meeting Topics

Please mark your calendars NOW for a year full of HRprofessional development. The Program Committee workshard to find its members topics of interest, presented in acondensed yet in-depth way--worthy of HRCI credit! Here is our line-up of speakers so far (and we'll keep youupdated when we add new speakers):

3/20 How to Select & Transition to a Human Capital

Management System

4/17 Avoiding the Boomer Drain: HR Strategies andBest Topics

5/17 Legislative Update

JUNE NO MEETING, Happy Summer Break

7/17 TBA

8/21 EEOC Hot Topics

9/18 Safety: Not Just a Position on the Field; Also inthe Workplace

10/16 Drama in the Workplace

11/20 Strategies for Benefits in light of ACA

12/18 TBA

Diversity: An Evolving Workforce The workforce today is ever evolving. Employers are seekingcreative ways to more effectively recruit and hire the besttalent. Recruiting persons with disabilities is one way toenhance your search for qualified job candidates. Hiringdisabled individuals is an untapped labor pool that not onlybuilds diversity within the company, but impacts thecompany's bottom line and its culture. Below are a fewstatistical facts:

54 million people with disabilities = 3rd largestmarket segment.

92% of Americans view companies that hire peoplewith disabilities more favorably.87% of the public prefer to support businesses whohire people with disabilities.70% of disabled Americans say they want to work full-time.Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) of up to 40% ofthe first $6,000, or up to $2,400, in wages paidduring the first 12 months for each new hire.

Therefore, when seeking ways to increase diversity andimpact your company's bottom line, online resources may bea good starting point. An example of a website that you maywant to use as a resource tool is Think Beyond the Label(TBTL). TBTL is a public-private partnership that deliversinformation, outreach and resources to businesses, job seeksand the public workforce system to ensure greater recruitingand hiring opportunities for job candidates with disabilities. TBTL's purpose and message is simple - to better inform,connect and communicate with all stakeholders in thedisability and employment system so that they can be acatalyst for a more inclusive workforce. For moreinformation on how your organization can be a more diverseand inclusive workplace, visitwww.thinkbeyondthelabel.com.

Volunteer Opportunities The Howard County Human Resources Society has threeupcoming opportunities for volunteers forWorkforce Readiness: Howard High School will be holding interview dayson Wednesday, March 26 and Thursday, March 27, 2014. Available times are 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. or 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. onboth days. Contact Sharon_flanagan@hcpss.org ordglenn@hcpss.org by Tuesday, February 25, 2014. HCC Spring/Career Fair on March 14, 2014 from 10 a.m.to 1 p.m. Burrill Galleria needs volunteers for mockinterviews. The contact is Anita Lee 410-313-7482. Passport to the Future program will be holding mockinterviews on March 14, 2014, from 8 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. atThe Rouse Company Foundation Student Services Hall(Room 400), Howard Community College, 10901 LittlePatuxent Pkwy, Columbia, MD 21044. The contact isStephanie Discepolo at sdiscepolo@hcpss.org or 410-313-7493.

The Next Frontier: How to Explain the Employer Mandate to

Your CEO

A primer on the February 2014 Final Regulations

March 10, 2:00-3:00PM (EST) Free WebinarCourtesy of Holder Law Group, LLC Space is limited.Reserve your Webinar seat now at:https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/116533487

News from Maryland SHRM State Council

Upcoming Programs and Events!

October 5-7: Mark your calendars NOW for the2014 annual Maryland State SHRM conferencein Ocean City, MD.

Make 2014 the year of professionaldevelopment! SHRM chapter membership providesmultiple networking and professional developmentopportunities throughout the year. Not sure if chaptermembership is right for you? Learn more about our 10great chapters throughout the state and watch ourshort video about membership benefits. And considera tax-deductible donation to the SHRM Foundation.

ISO a new Job Opp? Have one to offer? Checkout MD SHRM's new Job Posting Board.Listings are competitively priced for employers andfree to job seekers!

Need Recert credits? MD SHRM has partneredwith SHRM's e-Learning services to provide greateraccess for Maryland's HR professionals to continuingeducation credits.

MD SHRM Connects at Leadership Conference- More than 20 Maryland SHRM volunteer leadersattended SHRM's Leadership conference inNovember. Attendees met with Congressionalleaders, attended workshops on volunteer leadership,networked and had fun! Interested in volunteerleadership opportunities? 2014 committees nowforming. Contact Christine Walters for moreinformation.

College Relations - Whether you belong to a localchapter or are an at-large SHRM member, be sure toreach out to local student members in the New Year. Ifyour chapter sponsors a student chapter, (re-)engagewith the students and their faculty advisor. If acollege near you doesn't have a student chapter, helpto start one. Look for MD SHRM college relationsinformation and events throughout 2014.

Looking for more events? Check out our Events

page for programs and events in your area. Click herefor more info: Maryland State SHRM Council

Questions or comments? Contact MD SHRM Director,Christine V. Walters, MAS, JD, SPHR. For more information, go to: http://md.shrm.org/

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